The Maypole Fund was established 1986 by women involved in the peace movement, particularly through the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp. The Fund is an unincorporated non-profit association which has chosen not to seek charitable status in order that it can support peaceful campaigning, activism and advocacy.
The Maypole Fund is currently accepting applications for its 31st January 2024 grant deadline for imaginative, non-violent activities by feminist anti-militarist women – whether individual women or women only groups – to proactively challenge patriarchy (i.e. societal or governmental systems in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from power).
Applications are welcomed from women for projects and activities that meet the following aims of the Fund:
o Anti-militarism.
o Action against the arms trade.
o Action against nuclear weapons and weapons systems,
o Action to support disarmament policies, processes and related initiatives, and
o Creating a culture of peace and nonviolence and the prevention of conflict and war.
One-off grants up to £750, with no matched funding requirement, are available for a wide range of activities. Maypole grants have previously funded projects such as:
o Making videos.
o Printing leaflets, and
o Putting on exhibitions.
A number of examples of previously supported projects are available on the Fund's website.
Applications must be:
o For activities or projects not yet started.
o From individual and small women’s groups rather tha larger established women’s groups.
o Imaginative/creative activities.
o Made by young women’s groups/individuals and lesbian groups/individuals, and
o Made by women who do not have access to other sources of funding or whose projects find it difficult to attract funding from elsewhere.
The Maypole Fund has two application deadlines each year, on:
o 31st January, and
o 30th June.
The next application deadline is therefore Wednesday 31st January 2024. Applicants should complete the online application form available on the Trust's website.
Please note that the Maypole Fund does not advertise a postal address or 'phone number. Its email address is maypolefund(at)yahoo.co.uk.
